Coupler



Dec. 23, 1924. 1,520,251

E. P. KINNE COUPLER Filed July 10. 1 22 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I [506727 07 fi J5 Mmmd mm 23, 1924. 1,520,251 E. P. KINNE COUPLER Filed July 10. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I J7 I 34/ 22*;

763W @MM ww w Patented Dec, 23, 1924.-

EDMUND P. KINNE, DIE-ALLIANCE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN STEEL FOUNDRIES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

COUPLER.

Application filed July 10, 1922. Serial No. 573,912.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, EDMUND P. KINNE, a citizen of the United States, residin at Alliance, in the county of Stark and tate of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in C uplers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to couplers and more particularly to means for preventing the lock of a bottom lift type of coupler from creeping.

As is well known, the lock which normally holds the. knuckle in its closed or normal operative position has a tendency under, operating conditions to creep toward a nonlocking or inoperative position. Various means have been provided for overcoming such creeping action of the lock, depending somewhat upon the type of coupler and upon various contours thereof.

One object of this invention is to provide lock anti-creeping means which is simple and effective and which at the same time will not interfere with the operation of the various parts of the coupler.

Another object is to provide a coupler of the bottom lift type with lock anticreeping means which is adapted to function under service conditions and meet the various requirements.

These and other objects are accomplished by means of the arrangement disclosed on the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through what is known as the D type of bottom lift coupler, showing the lock in its locking position and toggle or trigger of the bottom lift mechanism engaging the anti-creep lug;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the same coupler showin the contour of the bottom lock hole; an

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to that shown in Figure 1 with the parts in look lift position and showing the to'ggle or trigger clearing the anti-creep lug.

The various novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the figures of the drawings, it will be noted that my invention is disclosed in connection with what is known as the standard type D coupler having a head 10 with the usual horn 11 and the spaced knuckle arms 12 between the latter of which the knuckle 13 is pivotally mountresting upon the tail 16 of the knuckle 13.

while in Figure 1 the lock 15 is elevated from the knuckle tail 16 as a result of a creeping action of the lock. Were some means not provided for preventing a further creeping action of the lock 15, it ultimately would move into a position permitting the release or an opening movement of the knuckle 13. This, of course, is undesirable and is to be prevented.

In this connection it will be noted that the lock 15 has adepending leg 17 the lower end of which is enlarged and is provided with an elongated diagonally arranged slot 18 in which a laterally extending projection on thebottom lift 19 is adapted to move. ThlS enlarged head 20 at the lower end of the lock leg 17 is adapted to move vertically through the lock opening 21. Mounted on the frontwall of the coupler head and extending rearwardly therefrom intothe lock opening 21 is a projection or anti-creep lug 22, the function of which,- as a result of the upper trigger portion 23 of the lift member 19 is moved out from engagement with the under side of the anti-creep lug 22, thereby liberating the lock 15 to creep farther toward a non-locking position. To overcome this objectionable feature, I have provided means which positively prevents the locking leg 17 from moving rearwardly and thereby preventing the trigger portion 23 from accidentally moving out of engagement with the anti-creep lug 22 in a manner to permit creeping action of the lock 15. In this 1nstance such anti-creeping means takes the form of alug 24 which extends forwardly from the rear wall of the coupler head 10 into the lock leg opening 21 toward and substantially in the-same vertical plane as the lug 22. Accordingly when the lock is in its normal locking position, the lower rear portion of the lock leg 17 or a portion thereof, or projection thereon engages the forward part of the rear anti-creep lug 24 for preventing the lower part of the lock leg 17 from swinging rearwardly and, accordingly, holding the trigger 23 of the bottom lift member 19 under and in engagement with the front anti-creep lug 22.

Referring particularly to Figure 1 of the drawingsit will be noted that the lock 15 is in knuckle locking position and that the trigger 23 on the bottom lift member 19 is in engagement withth'e forward anti-creep lug 22 and the rear of the lock leg 17 is in engagement with the front wall of the anticreep lug 24, thereby preventing the lock 15 from creeping into a non-locking position. It will be understood that the lateral projection at the upper end of the bottom lift member 19 is in the bottom of the slot 18 and that there is no force being applied upwardly on the bottom lift member for moving the lock into its non-locking or open position. However, with the parts arranged as shown in Figure 3, it will he noted that pressure is applied upwardly upon the lift member19, whereupon the laterally extendin projection occupies the upper end of the s 0t 18, in which position the trigger 23 can pass upwardly and escape the forward anti-creep lug 22 for lifting the lock 15 into a position for releasing the knuckle 13.

To make the action of the trigger and anti-creep lug 22 more positive, the trigger 23 is provided with an upper fiat surface 26 which normally cooperates with the under flat surface of the forward anti-creep lug 22.

It is appreciated that there may be various modifications of the invention and it is my intention to cover all such modifications which fall within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a coupler, the combination of a head having an opening for the passage of the leg of a lock, a knuckle pivotally connected to saidhead, a lock for said knuckle having a leg movable in said opening, a bottom lift member for lifting said look from a locking position, an anti-creep lug extending into said opening adapted to be engaged by said lift member for preventing said lock from creeping into a non-locking position when said le is in a given position, and means normal y for preventing saidleg taking a different position.

2. In a coupler, the combination of ahead having an opening for the passage of the leg of a lock, a knuc le pivotally connected to said head, a lock for said knuckle having a leg movable in said opening, a bottom lift member for lifting said lock from a locking position, an anti-creep lug extending into said opening adapted to be engaged by said lift member for preventingsaid lock from creeping into a non-locking position when said leg is in a given position, and another lug extending into said opening normally for preventing said leg taking a difierent position.

3. In a coupler, the combination of a head having an opening for the passage of the leg of a look, a knuckle pivotally connected to said head, a lock for said knuckle having the leg movable in said opening, a bottom lift member for lifting said lock from a locking position, anti-creep means adapted to be engaged by said lift member for preventing said lock from creeping into a non-locking position when-said leg is in a given position, and means normally for preventing said leg taking a different position.

4. In a coupler, the combination of a head having an opening, a knuckle pivotally connected to said head, a lock for locking said knuckle in an operative position and having a de ending leg movable in said opening, a 100 lifter slidably connected to the leg of said lock, and a plurality of lugs, one acting upon the lock lifter and the other upon the depending leg of the lock for preventing said look from creeping into a non-locking position.

5. In a coupler, the combination of a head, a knuckle pivotally connected thereto, a lock for locking said knuckle in a given position, and a lifter slidably, connected to said lock, said head having one portion for cooperating with said lifter when the latter is in one position and another portion cooperating with said lock for preventing the lock creeping into a non-locking position.

6. In a car coupler, the combination with a coupler head, a knuckle, and a vertically sliding and rearwardly swinging lock for said knuckle, of means for actuating said lock, said lock being provided with a depending leg, said coupler head being provided with an opening in its lower wall into which said leg is adapted to'project, said coupler head having means cooperating with said lock actuating means for preventing said look from accidentally assuming an unlocked position when said leg is in a given locked position, and means normally preventing said leg from assuming a substantially difi'erent position.

Signed at Alliance, Ohio, this 29th day of June, 1922.

' EDMUND P. KINNE. 

